Solid oxide fuel cell system

Abstract

The present invention provides a solid oxide fuel cell system, which comprises a central support means, a fixture means, a current collection means, a manifold, and at least one fuel cell means, wherein the fuel cell means and the current collection means are moveable in the direction parallel to the axis of the fuel cell means.

1. A solid oxide fuel cell system comprising:
 a fuel cell plate; 
 a central support tube associated with the fuel cell plate; 
 a tubular fuel cell associated with the fuel cell plate; 
 a current collection plate electrically connected to the tubular fuel cell, wherein the current collection plate is slidably attached to the central support tube; and 
 an insulator plate between the fuel cell plate and the current collection plate, wherein the insulator plate comprises a combustion catalyst. 
 
     
     
       2. The solid oxide fuel cell system of  claim 1 , wherein the current collection plate is slip fit over the central support tube. 
     
     
       3. The solid oxide fuel cell system of  claim 1 , wherein the central support tube is friction fit into the fuel cell plate. 
     
     
       4. The solid oxide fuel cell system of  claim 1 , wherein the fuel cell plate comprises an injector pin. 
     
     
       5. The solid oxide fuel cell system of  claim 4 , wherein the tubular fuel cell is mounted on the injector pin. 
     
     
       6. The solid oxide fuel cell system of  claim 5 , wherein the tubular fuel cell is mounted on the injector pin without a seal. 
     
     
       7. The solid oxide fuel cell system of  claim 6 , wherein the injector pin is integral to the fuel cell plate. 
     
     
       8. The solid oxide fuel cell system of  claim 1 , wherein the fuel cell plate comprises a cavity and the tubular fuel cell is inserted into the cavity. 
     
     
       9. The solid oxide fuel cell system of  claim 1 , wherein the central support tube comprises a fuel reformer. 
     
     
       10. The solid oxide fuel cell system of  claim 1 , wherein the central support tube and the tubular fuel cell are in fluid communication via a manifold. 
     
     
       11. The solid oxide fuel cell system of  claim 10 , wherein the manifold is dome-shaped. 
     
     
       12. The solid oxide fuel cell system of  claim 1 , wherein the central support tube, the current collection plate, the insulator plate, the fuel cell plate, and the tubular fuel cell comprise a fuel cell assembly, and the fuel cell assembly is inserted into an insulation component. 
     
     
       13. The solid oxide fuel cell system of  claim 12  comprising a void space between the fuel cell plate and the insulation component. 
     
     
       14. The solid oxide fuel cell system of  claim 13 , wherein the void space is adapted to function as a manifold. 
     
     
       15. The solid oxide fuel cell system of  claim 1 , wherein the tubular fuel cell comprises an electrolyte, a cathode, and an anode, and wherein the electrolyte and the cathode of the tubular fuel cell comprise a length that is circumferentially variable to expose the anode of the tubular fuel cell. 
     
     
       16. A solid oxide fuel cell system comprising:
 a fuel cell plate; 
 a central support tube associated with the fuel cell plate; 
 a tubular fuel cell associated with the fuel cell plate; 
 a current collection plate electrically connected to the tubular fuel cell, wherein the current collection plate is slidably attached to the central support tube; 
 at least one of a heat exchanger and an afterburner attached to the central support tube; 
 an insulator plate between the fuel cell plate and the current collection plate; and 
 a manifold in fluid communication with the tubular fuel cell, 
 wherein the fuel cell plate comprises an injector pin, the central support tube together with at least one of the heat exchanger and the afterburner form a single removable assembly, and the tubular fuel cell and the current collection plate form a single removable assembly. 
 
     
     
       17. The solid oxide fuel cell system of  claim 1 , wherein the current collection plate comprises a plurality of depressions and a conductive paste is applied to the depressions. 
     
     
       18. The solid oxide fuel cell system of  claim 1 , wherein a plurality of conductive clips are inserted into the current collection plate.